This all sounds very good. I have MS ( and two other long term conditions) Having just moved and had to manage the NHS transition from one trust to another -anything that makes life living with these conditions easier and more flexible to manage is welcome. The transition has been incredibly difficult and frustrating requiring lateral thinking, tenacity and not taking no for an answer. It has reinforced my view that the NHS is just an umbrella label for different organisations in different parts of the country - that don’t have any systems that ‘talk’ to each other and a creaking bureaucracy staffed by excellent people.
Since 2014 I have taken mum to the macular degeneration clinic for scans& eye injections. We are lucky in Kingston to have the Royal eye unit & it's currently being refurbished. We arrive at our alloted appointment with a large waiting area full to brim. Like you it's then a 2-4hr wait for checks & treatment. Staff are lovely. We then have to attend a clinic for diabetic eye screening/checks - why they can't be done at the same time & scans cross checked is beyond me. Double handling.
Mum also has daily insulin injections so sees district nurses almost daily. But then needs to see a nurse at the surgery for diabetic screening. I asked why the visiting DN couldnt do the checks - yes they agreed that would be better but it wasn't part of their contract. Double handling again. I despair.
Anything that will reduce waiting times and increase patient’s confidence in their health care provision is worth trying. As a retired health care professional, I am having to experience long waiting times (7 years and still waiting, for knee replacements, 2 years to see the Parkinson’s specialist at the present time, it is more than frustrating ! Thank goodness for our GP services, also under so much pressure!
My husband has been waiting similar lengths of time (to date 7 years , only 2 years to go apparently) for his first NHS visit to a neurologist after an admission and diagnosis of epilepsy, and 3 years waiting for an appointment for a pre-cancerous dermatological condition.
Tinkering with ten year plans however well intentioned, is not going to bring about the fundamental changes that are needed for the future.
I do believe that the best way forward is to have a cross-party working group to review the whole concept of the NHS and we will all have to face the facts that major changes are needed. We must ensure that our health care staff can provide care that is timely, appropriate and effective in maintaining the health of our nation.
It is hard to believe now that it was expected that once the mountain of ill health was removed, then the costs of the NHS would gradually reduce year on year!
Nine months is way to long to wait to see a neurologist. More should be made of Geriatricians like myself who specialise in Parkinson’s disease and have more flexibility. Patients symptoms are constantly changing and need much regular reviews.
How much does a watch cost, Rory? I've read that annual savings to the NHS of around £17,000 per patient can be made when they're used, so the watches seem like a worthwhile investment to me.
This all sounds very good. I have MS ( and two other long term conditions) Having just moved and had to manage the NHS transition from one trust to another -anything that makes life living with these conditions easier and more flexible to manage is welcome. The transition has been incredibly difficult and frustrating requiring lateral thinking, tenacity and not taking no for an answer. It has reinforced my view that the NHS is just an umbrella label for different organisations in different parts of the country - that don’t have any systems that ‘talk’ to each other and a creaking bureaucracy staffed by excellent people.
Since 2014 I have taken mum to the macular degeneration clinic for scans& eye injections. We are lucky in Kingston to have the Royal eye unit & it's currently being refurbished. We arrive at our alloted appointment with a large waiting area full to brim. Like you it's then a 2-4hr wait for checks & treatment. Staff are lovely. We then have to attend a clinic for diabetic eye screening/checks - why they can't be done at the same time & scans cross checked is beyond me. Double handling.
Mum also has daily insulin injections so sees district nurses almost daily. But then needs to see a nurse at the surgery for diabetic screening. I asked why the visiting DN couldnt do the checks - yes they agreed that would be better but it wasn't part of their contract. Double handling again. I despair.
All the best x
Anything that will reduce waiting times and increase patient’s confidence in their health care provision is worth trying. As a retired health care professional, I am having to experience long waiting times (7 years and still waiting, for knee replacements, 2 years to see the Parkinson’s specialist at the present time, it is more than frustrating ! Thank goodness for our GP services, also under so much pressure!
My husband has been waiting similar lengths of time (to date 7 years , only 2 years to go apparently) for his first NHS visit to a neurologist after an admission and diagnosis of epilepsy, and 3 years waiting for an appointment for a pre-cancerous dermatological condition.
Tinkering with ten year plans however well intentioned, is not going to bring about the fundamental changes that are needed for the future.
I do believe that the best way forward is to have a cross-party working group to review the whole concept of the NHS and we will all have to face the facts that major changes are needed. We must ensure that our health care staff can provide care that is timely, appropriate and effective in maintaining the health of our nation.
It is hard to believe now that it was expected that once the mountain of ill health was removed, then the costs of the NHS would gradually reduce year on year!
I agree my husband has gone to a few appointments and we have wondered what was the point of that.
Nine months is way to long to wait to see a neurologist. More should be made of Geriatricians like myself who specialise in Parkinson’s disease and have more flexibility. Patients symptoms are constantly changing and need much regular reviews.
How much does a watch cost, Rory? I've read that annual savings to the NHS of around £17,000 per patient can be made when they're used, so the watches seem like a worthwhile investment to me.